Norfolk · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Norfolk public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Lambert's Point Pedestrian Bridge
The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation presented the proposed pedestrian bridge, after holding four community meetings. Neighbors' early feedback centers on trees and landscaping, parking and land use, and long-term design and maintenance.
Church Street Area Plan
A new small-area plan for the Church Street corridor from Brambleton to Princess Anne Road would guide redevelopment, multimodal streetscapes, and safer pedestrian crossings, building on the St. Paul's transformation.
Faith-based and nonprofit affordable housing
Norfolk wants special state legislation allowing escalating civil penalties against repeat code violators, to keep naturally occurring affordable housing from rotting beyond repair. More than 75% of the city's affordable housing is unsubsidized, so losing it is costly to replace.
Faith-based housing by-right amendment
A new state law effective 2027 lets churches and nonprofits build mixed-income housing by right on land they've owned for five years, with at least 60% affordable. Norfolk is writing the local standards — 45-foot heights, 20 units per acre — before the October 22 initiation.